170 FORESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



(4:.) In which the pond pine forms the greater portion of the 

 giowth or is tlie hirgest tree — ])oiid pine pocosins. 



OAK FLATS. 



The oak liats border most of tlie gum and cypress swamps^ 

 Ij'ing between the gum and cjpress swanjps and the level ])ine 

 lands. They constitute ab>ut one-fourth of the swamp area, or 

 1,000 square miles. The soils are damp or moist usually deep 

 loams, or more often sandy loams, generally inundated during 

 spring, with a good humus and a fair intermixture of vegetable 

 matter in the top-soil. 



Their growth is entirely of I)road leaf trees, in places with 

 occasional loblolly pines disseminated among them, but the white 

 and water oaks are characteristic. Water and willow oaks skirt 

 the Hats. Swamp chestnut oak and overcup oak, Spanish oak, 

 and occasional white oaks form a great part of the growth of the 

 interior; witii them, elms, red maple, cottonwood, and more or 

 less sweet gum and water gum. These form an upper story 80 to 

 100 feet in height, and of consideralile density ; beneath them are 

 many small trees, ])ost oak, hornbeam, and iiaws. 



Where not suppressed by browsing cattle, or the shade is not 

 too dense, ynung seedlings of most of the trees are represented. 

 All of the trees endure a light shade in youth ; J:he willow and 

 water oaks least, the white and overcup oaks the deepest and for 

 the longest period. In mo.st localities pasturage is regularly 

 practiced, this woodland being esteemed the best grazingground 

 for cattle during the spring and summer, and the young gi-owth 

 of tender broad-leaf species is systematically suppressed. Pine 

 and the more vigorously sprouting and rapidly growing s]>ecie& 

 and those seeding most alnmdantly — cottonwood, water oak and 

 wuUow oak — largely replace windfalls and culled specimens. 

 The seed of the swamp chestnut oak, overcup and white oaks are 

 largely destroyed by Jiogs ; the seed of the other oaks to a less 

 extent. 



There is so little undergrowth, and these woods are so damp, 

 that iires rarely pass through the liats or do any serious damage. 

 Much of tlie best white oak, the sevtn'al species, and Spanish oak. 



